*UNEMPLOYED NURSES*
- page 14

Ello~
I'm just curious to know, for those of you who are unemployed nurses, exactly how long have you been looking for work? What are you (LPN,RN,BSN-RN,MSN-NP,etc.) How many previous years of... Read More

OMG how true, the one I worked for chewed me out like I would light into one of my kids, because I couldn't find the shirt she wanted the child to wear, and once more because I didn;t take her garbage down stairs when I left her house, it is a joke, I agreed she needs a home health aide, she can do everything better than me anyway, never listens to anything I say, and generally treats me like a servant.

This is true sometimes, not all the time. I met many parents that never raised their voices and understood completely why I was there; however, I do know the type of parent you are speaking of. One of those had me fired for not changing a diaper. That is one thing I dislike about pediatric agency work. It had nothing to with being wet because of a diaper but a gaping hole where the mickey button used to be. There are a LOT of children who are in really bad shape. My point though is if we tick these people off for any little offense, the agency has us removed from the case and we are once again out of work. So if you want to get a paycheck, you're forced to be the maid, nanny, babysitter, and everything else in between to make the parents happy. It is absolutely absurd.

Apr 11, '11

Perfectly said. My stint in PED Homecare was short lived, as I no longer believed in what I was doing anymore. One case had 11 different nurses assigned, yet no one was good enough. I honestly believe that some of these kids may actually do better in a group home. There are so many that get practically 24/7 free care on the backs of the taxpayers. Group them together and let the parents visit. Makes much more sense. The agencies bow down to the parents and have nothing in place at all for conflict resolution. They just kick the nurse off the case without explanation or cause. I am at a crossroad because I have little desire to return to acute care. There is no easy way out in this field. Walmart time.

Apr 11, '11

There are so many excellent nurses out there but the crappy ones get to keep their jobs because they have "dirt" on management. It's disgusting to witness. Get the bad seeds out.. it reflects negatively on the nurses who actually care about the patients and care less about the politics!

Apr 12, '11

Had an interview today, didnt get the job

Apr 26, '11

I'm finally employed. Looks like I'm changing specialties!

I was offered a hospice job last week. I had tried forever to get into hospice since I was a new grad but couldn't get anyone to give me a chance. I had a good feeling about this company as soon as I walked in to the interview. I got a very friendly vibe from everyone and it seemed that they were really listening to everything I had to say. They also acknowledge that I don't have the experience and that I will need to have some additional training but they were willing to take a chance on me anyway because they believe I will be a good fit for the company and their team.

I'm very grateful after 5 months of nothing. I am still so afraid of finding myself unemployed again. I'm a little wary at this point of any opportunity. I loved my last job and thought everything was fine until the rug was pulled out from under me. I am so afraid of that happening again. This job is a huge opportunity for me. I'll be in a specialty that I have wanted to be a part of since before I ever went to nursing school. I know that I can do this and I just hope that they see that in me.

It's so strange how everything is falling together. On Tuesday I got engaged, on Wednesday I was offered the job, and on Thursday my fiance' got a promotion. Things are looking up, but I am still afraid that it can all go away. I think I have PTSD from losing my job before!

Stick with it, y'all. It will happen.

Apr 26, '11

You are what you think you keep up with the positive. The lesson to learn is that live life one day at a time. and that there is not garantee that all would be bad or all will be good. Enjoy your present happiness in life don't think about it. whatever comes just say. this too shall pass.

Apr 26, '11

Graduated 2008, worked in Neurosurgical ICU for 1 year; pregnant during that time. After baby was born husband and I decided to move closer to family so, while still on maternity leave moved to south Florida, took an additional 3 months to get accustomed to the area, older child settled in school etc..etc... I have now been officially without a job for 18 months now. I have submitted hundreds of applications to the hospitals around here, clinics, home health and various other organizations, full time and part time... and in that time I have had..count them..2 yes I said 2 interviews with no job offer from either although one rejection notification said I interviewed well, was very polite and they hoped that I would be able to find other employment within their company. My main concern is that the longer I am without employment the bigger the red flag on my application...I am completely frustrated that I have no job, no interviews from the jobs I am applying for and the comments I get from people around me when I tell them I am having trouble getting a job and they ask what I do...they hear nurse and laugh...like I am lying about the trouble finding employment..."nursing is a recession proof" job I hear...HA!! if they only knew! I am seriously ready to give nursing up all it has done is put me in debt and caused me so much stress and anger while trying to find a job...cause my husband and me to argue almost daily because I now wish we had never moved...I gave up a job with an awesome hospital that I had worked at for 5 years; first as a pharmacy technician then a nurse..never had 1 bad evaluation. I guess job loyalty doesn't matter here in south Florida.

Apr 26, '11

yes, frustratedrn00, i feel you pain. unfortunately, "maternity leave," "relocation to be closer to family" if the employers you are applying to know of this, you have set off "red flags." with the glut of nurses in the employment pool, employers are looking for nurses currenly experienced in what ever specialty they're seeking for the slot to fill, nurses who show no signs of loyalty to anything but their job. i'm sure some unscrupulous hiring manager figures you'll be pregnant again by this time next year, wanting to relocate at the drop of a hat.

unfair? likely, but such is the way of cut-throat business and now health care is a cut-throat business. 5 years, unfortunately, is not that long of a time for what nurse managers are used to for someone working at one facility.

i do wish you the best of luck, persevere. i ended up having to take a home health/shift position for 1/2 my former salary which, itself, was way low for the area.

Apr 29, '11

This is a response to T. Ferguson and bree: It is sad that you both complain about "foreign" nurses when it has been my experience that most American nurses and directors seem to discriminate against non-white nurses. By the way, I am curious as to what you mean by foreign - you mentioned language, so I assume that is one measure. Is that your only definition? It would be nice to think that all nurses are hired based on competence; are you suggesting these foreign nurses are less competent than you? I would gladly work along with them because in my experience they can be just as caring and competent as any other nurse.
Foreign born, educated in the US, and looking-for-work nurse.

I'd love for every facility to be required to disclose to the public exactly how many imports they've hired in the last 10 years, and what percent of total staff have been American citizens for over 5 years. Also what percent were educated here in the US. Just lay it on the table man.

It's far worse cause in 2007 then President signed that nurses in Phillipines (Guam and Saipon too) could take teh NCLEX directly there crying (you guessed it) a dire urgency for nurses. At least before this when they used to come here there was some risk to them - they came at their own expense and if they didn't pass back they went and the year was a loss.

Now, fughetabout it. i googled and even saw an advertisement to pay their afaire and all that to come here. Just what you need in a 10+ year recession - an EVEN BIGGER industry of 3rd world nurses (and other professionals) eager to work here for comparatively poor wages and conditions - and people willing to line their pockets to enable it. I've seen others advertising they had a full house of available temp nurses and "permanent foreign nurses" wanting to come to the country for "very low wages". I only recently started looking because I was reading the union stuff - I'm not union but it's interesting. Sane loads, health insurance and someone to stick up for you do sound attractive.

Understand I have nothing against people doing what's best for them and many of these nurses I've met have been good nurses. Many get graduate degrees and *we should learn from them - cheaper and better educated will do us in every time - ask hi tech. But the real answer to the problems in 3rd world countries is to fix the problems in that country and stay there - not to let anybody who wants to displace an American with a psuedo-slave bring them over here on the backs of the working citizens and taxpayers. It's also a disservice to developing countries that desperately need their healthcare professionals.

This is a response to T. Ferguson and bree: It is sad that you both complain about "foreign" nurses when it has been my experience that most American nurses and directors seem to discriminate against non-white nurses. By the way, I am curious as to what you mean by foreign - you mentioned language, so I assume that is one measure. Is that your only definition? It would be nice to think that all nurses are hired based on competence; are you suggesting these foreign nurses are less competent than you? I would gladly work along with them because in my experience they can be just as caring and competent as any other nurse.
Foreign born, educated in the US, and looking-for-work nurse.

Some of it may be that 3rd world nations producing nurses that are intended to work in western countries is an entire industry. Foreign nurses, namely those from Phillipines and Guam, et al, are permitted to take the NCLEX in their own country. many go into nursing or hi-tech with the specific intent to come work here. Even as a woman who has worked in male-dominated fields I have noted nowhere in my life an abundance of discrimination against hiring people willing to work for 30-75% below the prevailing American wage. Phillipine nurses are typically very good nurses with advanced degrees or pursuing them. The same is true of nurses from India. Nursing in the Phillipines is quite respectable and by stats I've seen , albeit none recent, patients like them. We should emulate their commitment to best practice and advanced education and stop attacking each other and instead encourage each other to achieve our full potential and be all we can be.

Apr 30, '11

Almost two years off due to injury. Looking for a job that fits my new restriction. Tried last August ...what a nightmare. Just started a few weeks ago..several calls but there always seems to be a redflag. May take a position next week, just to get feet wet. Not so sure..think there may be a communication problem. Not desperate yet. I never believe everything a future employer tells me is going to happen. My experience is a lot of it is usally fluff.